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  Crash helmet with thermoelectric coolingUSPTO Application #: 20060101556Title: Crash helmet with thermoelectric cooling Abstract: An conditioning system is shown for a helmet having an impact resistant body with an exterior, an interior which defines a head receiving cavity, a front region and having a back region which is located adjacent a lower edge of the helmet body. A first opening is provided in the helmet body located at the back region of the helmet body adjacent a lower edge thereof which acts as an air intake opening. A blower fan communicates with the air intake passage for drawing air into the intake passage and forcing the air from the back region of the helmet in the direction of the front region thereof. A thermoelectric cooling element is located in the helmet interior in communication with the intake passage downstream of the blower fan. The thermoelectric cooling element has a cold side and a hot side. A DC power source is provided for powering the thermoelectric cooling element. An external heat sink is located on the helmet exterior and is connected to the hot side of the thermoelectric cooling element by means of a second opening in the helmet body. Air passing over the thermoelectric cooling element is cooled and air conditions the head receiving region of the helmet. (end of abstract) Agent: Charles D. Gunter, Jr. Whitaker, Chalk, Swindle & Sawyer, LLP - Fort Worth, TX, US Inventor: Richard Goldsborough USPTO Applicaton #: 20060101556 - Class: 002171300 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Apparel, Head Coverings, With Forced Air Circulator The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060101556. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates generally to crash helmets such as motorcycle helmets and, more specifically, to such a helmet having a built in air conditioning module which provides cooling and temperature control for the inside of the helmet. [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art [0004] A variety of "crash" type helmets are known in the prior art for use in a variety of different industries or avocations. Generally speaking, the helmet is used to protect the head of the wearer by preventing major impacts, thereby serving to safeguard the well being of the wearer. For example, such helmets are commonly used by motorcycle enthusiasts and stock car and race car drivers. For purposes of the present discussion, a motorcycle embodiment of the invention will be described. However, it will be understood that other type crash helmets can also benefit from the improved design of the invention. [0005] While various styles of helmets are commercially marketed, they all tend to cover the entire head by a non-porous shell made of a plastic acrylic or other suitable synthetic type material. Since the wearer's head emits heat, this can cause discomfort or even unsafe wearing conditions. For example, heat which is trapped within the helmet interior can cause the visor to fog and obscure vision. Sweat dripping down in the wearer's face can also be distracting and obstruct the vision of the wearer. To solve this problem, helmet manufacturers have tended to provide vents or air intake openings in the helmets, typically in the front portion of the helmet facing the oncoming air flow while driving. Canadian Patent Application No. 2,171,265, entitled "Motor Cycle Helmet", by Tsai, discusses this type helmet design and alternative designs. The previously described air intake openings can allow water to enter the helmet when it is raining outside. Even if a movable closure plate is present, closing the intake vent causes the interior to steam up and create a stuffy, hot feeling. Tsai goes on to describe alternative designs utilizing "conducting devices" and "opening and closing regulating heat sinks". However, these alternative designs suffered from various shortcomings such as poor interior circulation, allowing rain and water to seep in. Certain of the designs were complicated to implement, requiring the assembly of many parts. [0006] Tsai addressed the problem of interior helmet heating by providing an improved "ventilating" system. Although the exact nature of the ventilating system is not fully apparent from the brief written disclosure, it appears that a pair of exhaust and intake fans on the rear of the helmet work in conjunction with an intake port on the front of the helmet. The intake and exhaust fans draw incoming air across a thermoelectric cooling element with the cooled air being circulated through ventilating ducts to the helmet interior. The intake port on the front of the helmet would continue to allow rain and moisture to accumulate in the helmet interior. Also, the thermoelectric cooling component design was not of an optimum design to provide the optimum cooling effect for the helmet interior. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] The present invention has as its object to provide further improvements in cooling systems for crash helmets such as motorcycle helmets. [0008] A further object of the invention is to provide such a helmet cooling system having improved air flow and having an improved thermoelectric module arrangement which provides more efficient interior cooling than was previously available. [0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved heat sink arrangement and an improved packaging arrangement for the components of the cooling system of the invention. [0010] These and other objects of the invention are achieved through a helmet air conditioning system for a helmet having an impact resistant body with an exterior, an interior which defines a head receiving cavity, a front region and having a back region which is located adjacent a lower edge of the helmet body. A first opening is provided in the helmet body located at the back region of the helmet body adjacent the lower edge thereof. The first opening defines an air intake passage for the intake of external air. At least one blower fan communicates with the air intake passage for drawing air into the intake passage and forcing the air from the back region of the helmet in the direction of the front region thereof. A thermoelectric cooling element is located in the helmet interior in communication with the intake passage downstream of the blower fan. The thermoelectric cooling element has a cold side and a hot side. A power source is provided for powering the thermoelectric cooling element. An external heat sink is located on the helmet exterior, the external heat sink being connected to the hot side of the thermoelectric cooling element by means of a second opening in the helmet body. [0011] Preferably, the helmet interior has a styrofoam liner installed therein which has a plurality of air conditioning ducts formed therein in communication with the air intake passage, whereby air forced from the rear of the helmet through the air intake passage is forced through the air conditioning ducts into the head receiving cavity in the interior of the helmet body. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the external heat sink located on the helmet exterior is a thin, curved strip having a length and a width and which wraps around a portion of the helmet exterior extending from the back region of the helmet body toward the front. Preferably, the heat sink has a length which is at least twice its width. [0012] Since air is being drawn in from the rear region of the helmet and forced through the air intake passage toward the air conditioning ducts in the helmet interior, the helmet body is preferably devoid of any air intake openings in the front of the helmet body. [0013] The blower fan, thermoelectric cooing element, heat sink and power source can be supplied as components in kit form, whereby a user can install the air conditioning components in a stock crash helmet. [0014] Additional objects, features and advantages will be apparent in the written description which follows. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0015] FIG. 1 is a rear, perspective view of one preferred embodiment of the air conditioned crash helmet of the invention. [0016] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view, similar to FIG. 1, of another embodiment of the crash helmet of the invention. [0017] FIG. 3 is a side, cross sectional view of the helmet of FIG. 1, taken approximately along the mid section thereof. [0018] FIG. 4 is a top view of the helmet of FIG. 1, showing the air conditioning ducts and certain of the internal components in dotted lines. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0019] Turning to FIG. 1, there is shown an air conditioned crash helmet 11 of the invention. The helmet 11 is formed from an impact resistant body having an exterior 13, an interior 15 which defines a head receiving cavity, a front region 17 and having a back region 19 which is located adjacent a lower edge 21 of the helmet body. The helmet body can be formed of any convenient material, typically a synthetic plastic or acrylic plastic. One advantage of the present invention is that a stock crash helmet, such as a motorcycle helmet, can be fitted with the air conditioning system of the invention. [0020] As best seen in FIG. 3, a first opening 23 is formed in the helmet body located at the back region 19 thereof adjacent the lower edge 21. The first opening 23 defines an air intake passage 25 for the intake of external air. Continue reading... Full patent description for Crash helmet with thermoelectric cooling Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Crash helmet with thermoelectric cooling patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. 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